Huangshan
/ˌhwɑːŋˈʃɑːn/noun
Huangshan is a celebrated mountain range and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Anhui Province, China.
Did you know?According to traditional legend, the Yellow Emperor—China’s mythical ancestral ruler—visited Huangshan to seek immortality and refine elixirs, though this story is not historical evidence.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese, 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
黃山
“The characters literally mean “yellow mountain”; the compound referred to a mountain or mountainous region.”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
黟山
“The range was traditionally known as Yishan, using a name associated with its earlier identity.”
747 CE
Middle Chinese
黃山
“During the Tang dynasty, the mountain was renamed Huangshan, traditionally connected with legends of the Yellow Emperor.”
16th–17th Centuries
Late Imperial Chinese
黄山
“Huangshan became increasingly celebrated in Chinese painting, poetry, travel writing, and religious culture.”
20th Century
Mandarin Chinese
Huángshān
“The modern Mandarin pronunciation and romanization of 黄山.”
Modern English
English
Huangshan
“The established English name for the mountain range, scenic area, and nearby city in Anhui.”